John h



J. H. LAMB,

ELECTRIC TIME SWHCH.

APPLlCATION FILEDIOCT. 1:;19x5,

1,1 93 1 59, Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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Witnesses Z I a; nven or /777m. I l WWW by Attorneys,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. LAMB, OF WASHINGTON, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC TIME-SWITCH.

Application filed October 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. LAMB, a citizenof the United States, residing at Vashington, in the county of Daviessand State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful ElectricTime-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to electric time switches, and aims toprovide a novel and improved device of that character.

The invention embodies an electric switch adapted to control anelectrical circuit, and clock actuated means for closing said switch atpredetermined intervals, means being provided whereby the switch may beclosed at various times, and may be held closed for predeterminedlengths of time.

Another object of the. invention is to provide an electric switchadapted to be closed by a clock, and means for positively opening orreleasing the switch if the same is not done by the spring meansprovided for that purpose.

It is also within the scope of the invention to provide an appliance ofthe nature indicated which is comparatively simple and inexpensive inconstruction, as well as being practical, serviceable and eflicient inuse.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein. disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure1 is an elevation of the appliance. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an oppositeelevation of the switch device removed from the clock.

The switch device is preferably applied directly to the case or frame 1of a suitable clock, and embodies a supporting strip or plate 2 having apair of key-hole-shaped slots 3 receiving the headed ends of screws orretaining elements 1 engaged with the back of the case or frame 1, theslots 3 each having a head or enlargement at one end Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

Serial No. 55,271.

for the passage of the head of the respective screw 4, whereby the stripor plate 2 may be readily applied to and removed from the clock.lfiurthermore, the strip 2 can be ad usted longitudinally of itself fortiming the opening of the switch, as will hereinafter more fully appear.The strip 2 carries an outstanding block 5 constructed of fiber or otherinsulating material, and a standard 6 is secured upon the block 5, andhas attached thereto a binding post 7 for the attachment of one terminal8 of an electric circuit. A switch blade 10 is pivoted, as at 11, to thestandard 6. An upstanding contact 12 is secured upon that end portion ofthe block 5 opposite the standard 6, and the free end of the blade 10 isengageable downwardly with the contact 12,to close or bridge the spacebetween the standard 6 and contact 12 when the blade is depressed. Abinding post 13 is secured to the contact 12 for the attachment of theother terminal 1% of the circuit, whereby the switch blade 10 controlsthe circuit.

In order to normally open or disengage the switch blade 10 from thecontact 12, a coiled wire expansion spring 15 is disposed between theblade 10 and block 5, so as to lift the blade when it is free to swingupwardly.

A device is carried by the clock for de pressing or swingingthe switchblade into engagement with the contact 12 at suitable intervals, and tothis end a strip 16 has one end pivoted, as at 17, to the back of thecase or frame 1 above the strip 2, and a gear wheel or pinion 18 issecured upon the rear protruding end of the minute hand arbor A of theclock. A relatively large gear wheel 19 is mounted for rotation upon thestrip 16 adjacent the pivot 17 thereof, and has an outstanding tappetpin 20 upon one face and adjacent its margin, so as to overhang theswitch device. The gear wheel 19 meshes with a lantern wheel or pinion21 carried by a gear wheel 22 mounted for rotation upon the strip 16adjacent the gear wheel 19, and the gear wheel 22 is adapted to meshwith the pinion 18 when the strip 16 is swung downwardly to normalposition. The strip 16 has a downwardly opening slot 23 adjacent itsfree end, and a bolt or other securing member 2 1 is carried by the backof the case or frame 1, to be received by the slot 23 when the strip 16is lowered, to thereby hold the strip 16 in place with the gear wheels18 and meshing.

The free end of the blade 10 projects into the path of the pin 20,whereby when the wheel 19 is rotated, the pin 20 will depress the blade10 into engagement with the contact 12, for closing the circuit, andwhen the pin 20 leaves the blade 10, the spring 15 raises the blade toopen the circuit. By raising the strip 113, the gear wheel 22 can bedisengaged from the gear wheel 18, and this allows the gear wheel 19 tobe rotated for setting the pin 20 to the desired position, whereby saidpin will close the switch at the proper time.

The length of time that the switch is closed, is controlled by adjustingthe supporting strip 2 of the switch. Thus, by adjusting .the striplongitudinally to the left, as seen in Fig. 1, the switch blade 10 ismoved longitudinally so that only a short portion thereof projects intothe path of the pin 20, whereby the switch blade will only be helddepressed by the pin 20 a comparatively short period of time. When it isdesired to hold the circuit closed a greater length of time, the strip 2is adjusted or shifted to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, whereby agreater portion of the switch blade 10 will project into the path of thepin 20. Consequently, the blade 10 will be held depressed for a greaterlength of time. It is thus possible to properly time the opening of theswitch by adjusting the switch blade 10 through the medium of thesupporting strip 2 which carries the switch. It will be evident that thepin 20 wipes along the upper edge of the blade 10 when the wheel 19 isrotated in direction of the arrow in Fig. 1.

As a precaution, a device is employed for positively disengaging theswitch blade 10 from the contact 12, should the spring 15 fail to do itsduty. To accomplish this result, a lever 25 is pivoted, as at 26, to thecontact 12, and has an angularly extending finger 27 projecting belowthe switch blade 10. The finger 27 is carried by one arm or end of thelever 25, and the other arm of the lever has an upwardly projectingfinger 28 projecting into the path of the pin 20 adjacent or in rear ofthe free end of the blade 10. A coiled wire retractile spring 29connects the block 5 and that arm of the lever 25 having the finger 27,so that the finger 27 is normally swung downwardly away from the blade10, with the finger 28 projecting into the path of the pin 20. lVhen thewheel 19 rotates, the pin 20 after leaving the blade 10, engages thefinger 28, and swings the lever 25 so as to raise the finger 27, andshould the blade 10 stick to the contact 12 after the pin 20 has leftthe blade 10, the lever 25 in being swung by the pin 20 will cause thefinger 27 to raise the blade 10 and thus disengage it from the contact12 forcibly. This avoids the possibility of the circuit remaining closedshould the blade 10 stick to the contact 12.

The gear wheels 18, 22, 21 and 19 are preferably of such diameters, thatthe wheel 19 is rotated once every twenty-four hours whereby the switchwill be closed once every day or night, thus rendering the mechanismserviceable for turning 011 the lights of a show window automatically atthe beginning of darkness, the lights being turned oil late in theevening, when the lights are no longer desired or useful. The device mayalso be employed for controlling various other electrical circuits,appropriate changes in the structure being made, when necessary, inadapting the device to various uses.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In anelectric time switch, the combination with a clock, of a longitudinallyadjustable supporting member carried thereby, a switch blade pivoted tosaid member, a contact carried by said member with which the blade isengageable, and a wheel carried by the clock and connected to one arborthereof, said wheel having an outstanding pin engageable with the freeterminal of said blade.

2. In an electric time switch, the combination with a clock, of a blockof insulation carried thereby, a standard carried by said block, acontact carried by said block, a switch blade pivoted to the standardand engageable with said contact, a member pivoted to the clock, a wheelcarried by said member and having an outstanding pin engageable with;the free terminal of said blade, and means for connecting said wheel toone arbor of the clock when said member is swung properly.

3. In an electric time switch, the combination with a clock, of a blockof insulation carried thereby, a contact carried by said block, a switchblade pivotally connected with said block and engageable with saidcontact, means for disengaging the blade from said contact, a strippivoted to the clock, a gear wheel carried by said strip and having apin engageable with the free ter minal of the said blade to swing itinto engagement with said contact, a gear wheel carried by one arbor ofthe clock, and a gear wheel carried by said strip and connected to thefirst mentioned gear wheel and adapted to mesh with the second mentionedgear wheel when the strip is swung properly.

4:. In an electric time switch, a contact, a pivotally mounted switchblade engageable therewith, a. wheel having an outstanding pinengageable with said blade to move it into engagement with said contact,and

means ope'ated by said pin after it leaves said blade to forcibly movesaid blade away from the contact.

In an electric time switch, a contact,

a pivotally mounted switch blade engage-s able therewith, a rotary wheelhaving an outstanding pin to engage the blade for swinging it intoengagement with the contact, and a pivetally mounted lever having aportion with which said pin is engageable after it leaves said blade soas to swing the lever, the lever also having a portion engageable with.the blade whereby when the lever is swung by said pin it disengages saidblade from said contact.

(1. In an electric time switch, a contact, a plvotally mounted bladeengageable therewith, a rotary wheel having an outstanding pinengageable with the free terminal of said blade to swing the blade intoengagement with said contact, and a spring pressed lever pivoted to saidcontact and having a finger projecting into the path of said pin beyondthe free terminal of said blade, said lever also having a fingerprojecting under said blade whereby when the lever is swung itdisengages said blade from said contact. In testimony that I claim theforegoing as my own, I have hereunto afiixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. LAMB. \Vitnesses:

H. ARTHUR Sass, ROBERT P. COURTNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

